What to Pack for a Self-Guided Bike Tour in Italy
On a self-guided tour your luggage travels by van from hotel to hotel while you ride with a small day pack. That changes the packing problem completely: weight on the bike stops mattering, and what matters instead is having the right things with you during the day, because you only see your suitcase again in the evening.
This is the list we send our guests, including the mistakes we see repeated most often.
What we provide — so you do not pack it
- A quality rental bike — hybrid, road, gravel or e-bike — with helmet, lock, bag, repair kit and pump
- GPS navigation through our roadbook app: route, things to see, restaurant recommendations
- Daily luggage transfer between hotels
- Phone support for the whole trip
Worth repeating, because it is the single biggest cause of overweight suitcases: tools, inner tubes, pump and lock are all provided, and if something breaks we deal with it. There is no need to bring them from home. Full details are on our bike rental page.
On the bike
Padded shorts are the most important thing you will pack
If we had to choose one item, it would be these. They make a difference even for people who ride rarely, and above all they make a difference on day three, which is when problems show up.
Two warnings that sound obvious but are not: cycling shorts are worn without underwear underneath — the seam of your underwear is precisely what creates the friction points — and you should bring at least two pairs so you always have a dry one. Anyone who has had trouble before should pack chamois cream as well.
Layers, even in summer
Two or three cycling outfits, gloves, sunglasses, and a lightweight windproof or waterproof jacket. In spring and autumn showers here are short but possible, and more importantly the wind is a real factor: a very light windproof is the garment you will reach for most, even in June before the day warms up.
From November to March add long gloves, a thermal layer and overshoes. From June to September the problem is reversed and it is the sun: the light in southern Italy is stronger than the temperature suggests. Factor 50, and consider lightweight sun sleeves, which help here more than people expect.
Shoes
Our bikes have flat pedals, so a pair of trainers with a stiff sole is perfectly adequate and nothing else is needed. If you ride clipped in, bring your own shoes and tell us when you book: we will fit the pedals you prefer.
In the day pack
This is the only bag you have with you between hotels, so it matters more than the suitcase.
- Water. Two bottles from June to September, one the rest of the year. On the Murgia the villages are far apart.
- Power bank. If you navigate with your phone, the battery is what runs out first. It is the most commonly forgotten item.
- Cash. Not much, but some: in small village bars paying for a coffee by card is sometimes a problem.
- Swimwear and a quick-dry towel. Many stages pass beaches and coves, and stopping for a swim mid-ride is half the point of the holiday.
- Cap and sun cream, even in March.
- Something to eat. Nuts or a bar: between one and four in the afternoon many inland bars close.
For the evening
Puglia is informal. Casual summer clothing is fine everywhere, good restaurants included: nothing smart is required and nobody will ask for it. Add sandals or comfortable shoes — after a day in the saddle, walking through the old towns in the evening is a pleasure, but the paving is uneven — and a light layer, because even in summer the coast cools down after dark.
Rule of thumb: one medium suitcase each is plenty. Luggage transfer is organised around one bag per person, and hotels and B&Bs almost always have laundry or a way to get something washed.
Documents and practical items
- Passport or ID card
- Travel insurance details
- European Health Insurance Card, or your equivalent cover
- A credit card plus some cash
- Personal medication, enough for the whole trip
- A digital and a paper copy of your booking confirmation with hotel addresses: phone coverage on the Murgia is patchy, and a paper copy solves the bad evening
- Italian sockets are type L and F — bring an adapter if you are coming from outside continental Europe
What to leave at home
- Heavy locks — we provide one
- Tools and spares — provided, and we handle breakdowns
- Bulky paper guidebooks — the roadbook app covers the route, the sights and where to eat
- More than one suitcase each — the van is organised around one bag per person
- A helmet, unless you are attached to your own: it is included with the rental
Season by season
| Season | What to add |
|---|---|
| March–April | A proper windproof, gilet, light long gloves, a thermal layer |
| May–June | Very little: light windproof, sun protection, swimwear |
| July–August | Electrolytes, a second bottle, sun sleeves, factor 50, a cap under the helmet |
| September–October | Light waterproof, one extra layer for the evening |
| November–February | Long gloves, overshoes, thermal layer, spare lights for short days |
Still choosing dates? Our month-by-month guide to when to go cycling in Puglia explains what to expect in each period, and our guide to routes by difficulty will tell you how demanding your itinerary actually is.
Gravel routes: one extra consideration
On unsurfaced itineraries such as the Apulian Aqueduct cycle route or the Appian Way, everything above still applies, plus one more change of clothes: dust in summer and mud after rain both make themselves felt. Clear or lightly tinted glasses are also worth having, because dust matters more than glare on a gravel descent.
Frequently asked questions
How much luggage can I bring?
One suitcase each, of normal size. Luggage transfer is organised around one bag per person and it is moved between hotels every day.
Do I need to bring my own bike?
No. Rental bikes are either included or quoted separately depending on the itinerary, and they come with helmet, lock, bag, repair kit and pump. If you do bring your own, tell us in advance so we can arrange support.
Should I pack tools and spare inner tubes?
No. A repair kit and pump come with the bike, and if something serious goes wrong we deal with it through the phone support line.
What shoes do I need?
Trainers with a stiff sole are enough, because our bikes have flat pedals. If you ride clipped in, bring your own shoes and we will fit the pedals you prefer.
Do I need smart clothes for the evening?
No. Puglia is informal and casual clothing is fine everywhere, restaurants included. What you do want is comfortable shoes for walking on the uneven paving of the old towns.
What goes in the day pack?
Water, a power bank, some cash, sun protection, swimwear and a quick-dry towel, and something to eat. It is the only bag you carry during the stage — your suitcase is waiting at the hotel in the evening.
Do I need a waterproof jacket?
Yes, but a light one. It rains little and showers are short, but a jacket that also blocks wind is the garment you will use most, in nearly every season.
What kind of power adapter do I need?
Italian sockets are type L and F. Travellers from continental Europe are usually fine; anyone from the UK, North America or further afield should bring an adapter.
Unsure about kit for a specific itinerary, from the Tour of Salento to the Apulian Aqueduct? Write to us — we ride these roads every week.